Weird Enfield Firing Pin

Doug2500

Doug2500

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Vernon, BC
I picked up a mix-master 1911 No. 1 Mk III (no star) LE at a gun show a while back and finally got around to taking it out to shoot it, but it wouldn't fire. The problem is the firing pin doesn't protrude enough to hit the cartridge primer. I took the bolt apart to see why and the firing pin has an extra piece of metalwork on it near where the firing pin removal tool would fit. The main spring is also a little shorter than normal. I tried a firing pin from another on my Lee Enfields, and it protrudes fine, so this extra metalwork is the reason for the protrusion issue.

Has anyone come across this before? Did the guy I bought this gun off of assemble it with incorrect parts? I note the firing pin is marked RFI88, so is this for a L2A1 or something?

Any help would be appreciated, and if you have an extra firing pin and spring that you want to part with please PM me so I can get this old warhorse operational again.

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It is an early pattern SMLE striker introduced with the MkI SMLE. Early bolt heads were notched on the rear end to allow the striker to be unscrewed with the bh as a wrench.
 
Makes sense. I replaced the bolt body and bolt head so the headspace would be good, but I used the old bolt innards.

I dug out the old bolt head and it is notched as you have indicated, unfortunately I cannot use it due to the headspace issue.

Thanks for the help.
 
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